The steady way he was thumping her butt should have made this spanking easier to take, but the swats were so hard, it didn’t really and she whined into the mat.

“Everything I do is to take care of you, babygirl. Daddy knows what’s best for you. There will be no more refusals of bottles or anything else. Daddy’s going to give you everything you need, including discipline when you’re contrary or defiant. And as my Little girl, you’re going to accept everything Daddy gives you. Is that clear?”

“Yes, Daddy,” she whimpered, on the verge of tears.

Her whole backside was on fire, and Daddy wasn’t letting up at all. If anything, he was hitting her harder.

“You owe me an apology, Cricket. You’re going to give me a good one and you’re going to accept your full punishment with grace and humility.”

“Oh,” she whimpered.

Her bottom hurt so much, but she was somehow still turned on, and Daddy’s lecture wasn't helping any. She hated getting in trouble, and she did not like being disciplined so why the heck did she feel as though she could rub one out on the changing table?

“I-I’m sorry, Daddy. I’m sorry I was disobedient. I-I’m sorry I didn’t follow the rules.”

“Why?” he asked, applying a sharp crack of the hairbrush to one side of her butt and then the other.

He probably wanted her to say something other than because her punishmenthurt.

“Be-because Daddy knows best, and I belong to you.”

“That’s right. Good girl.”

If she was a good girl, why was he still thwacking her so hard with the brush? She would not be picking that implement again, that was for sure. Unless the others turned out to be worse? Son a of a starfish, what if they wereworse?

In addition to being ouchie, being spanked this way felt more humiliating than being over Daddy’s lap. The flesh of her bottom jiggled every time the brush licked her, especially when Daddy clipped the underside of her cheeks.

Cricket sniffled and whimpered, and felt very sorry indeed. Also good if a bit skeptical. Did he mean it? Daddy seemed to mean it, but if he didn’t…

It was a strange kind of relief that Daddy distracted her from that line of thinking by swatting her the hardest he had yet. She couldn’t help but cry.

“I’m sorry, Daddy! I’m so sorry! I’m yours, I’m yours,” she sobbed.

“There’s Daddy’s good girl. Ten more and you’re done, babygirl. Then you’ll show Daddy how well you’ve learned your lesson.”

Chapter Twenty-Four

This view was really something. Sure Owen loved the mountains and the trees and the water and all the other magnificent scenery Alaska had to offer, but goddamn if Cricket sobbing facedown on her changing table with a bright red, freshly spanked bottom wasn’t one of the best things he’d ever seen.

He brought the back of the hairbrush down on the fleshiest part of her backside, alternating cheeks, for the last ten strokes while she cried. The sounds of the brush against her plump bottom, the way she moved, her pathetic blubbering, and underneath it all the subtle scent of her arousal, were intoxicating. So much power handed over by this beautiful woman. So much obedience and trust. So much gratitude and meeting of each others' needs. It was too much and yet Owen wanted more.

Once he’d finished her last ten strokes, he let the brush clatter to the floor. Then he was rubbing her bottom that was the color of ripe tomatoes, and murmuring soothing things to her.

“What a good girl you were, Cricket. Such a good girl taking your punishment for being a naughty girl. Did you learn your lesson?"

"Yes, Daddy," she sniffled.

“Good girl. See, I told you Daddy would give you exactly what you needed. Does your bottom hurt?”

“Yes, Daddy. It’s so ouchie and hot. It feels like it’s burning.”

“I want you to remember this feeling when you think about being a naughty girl again. Daddy will spank your naughty bottom until it’s hot and stinging and swollen, and it’s going to hurt when you sit down. Hopefully it will help you remember to behave.”

“Yes, Daddy.”

“Now if I unclip your restraints, are you going to be a good girl and come have a cuddle with Daddy in the rocking chair or are you going to be a naughty girl and have a tantrum?”

“I’ll be a good girl, Daddy. Promise. I promise!”